Fault diagnosis apparatus for electrically operated smoking devices

Abstract

A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems is provided, including: delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; receiving an order from the remote user device, the order including an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; receiving user authentication information from a user; and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for supplying products for electrically operated smoking systems, comprising:
 delivering to a remote user device from a central server over a network connection order option information associated with a vending machine; 
 receiving an order from the remote user device, wherein the order includes an indication of a product available from the vending machine, and user identification information; 
 retrieving registered user information, including user authentication information associated with user identification information; 
 receiving user authentication information from a user; 
 if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, delivering the product to the user at the vending machine; and 
 receiving a product for an electrically operated smoking system from the user at the vending machine together with authentication or identification information associated with the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of performing an authentication check to determine if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, wherein the authentication check is performed remote from the vending machine, and if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, further comprising the step of instructing the vending machine to deliver the product to the user at the vending machine. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of performing an authentication check to determine if the received user authentication information matches the retrieved user authentication information, wherein the authentication check is performed at the vending machine. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising sending the order from a remote device, together with the user authentication information associated with user identification information, to the vending machine. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the order option information is associated with a plurality of vending machines and the order from the remote user device includes selection of a particular vending machine. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving user authentication information comprises one or more of scanning an image, receiving a short range communication protocol wireless signal, receiving data entered through a user interface on the vending machine, reading a chip card, and making a biometric measurement. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a location from the remote user device before delivering the order option information. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the order option information comprises the location of vending machines near to the location from the remote user device. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein when the location from the remote user device is within a first distance of one of the vending machines, the order option information includes only products available from that vending machine. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising identifying the product and sending an indication of the product to the central server together with the authentication or identification information.